Justice C. Haley Bunn has been designated to serve as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia for 18 months beginning January 1 and continuing through June 30, 2027.
The extended term comes as the court transitions the chief justice’s rotation from a calendar year to fiscal year basis.
“I am honored to have been entrusted by my colleagues to serve as chief justice and lead the judicial branch over the next year and a half,” Bunn said.
Appointed in 2022 and elected to a full 12-year term that began January 1, 2025, this will be Bunn’s first time serving as chief justice. She succeeds Chief Justice William R. “Bill” Wooton, who concluded his first tenure as chief justice on December 31.
“This was a year of significant transition across the West Virginia judiciary, with the legislatively mandated judicial realignment that took effect at the beginning of the year as well as the turnover on the Supreme Court with the retirement of Justice Beth Walker and unfortunate passing of Justice Tim Armstead,” Wooton said. “In spite of all the changes, our branch of government continued to operate seamlessly — a testament to the dedicated people we have working across the entire judicial branch.”
West Virginia rotates its chief justice every year. Earlier this year, justices voted to realign that service from a calendar year basis to the state’s fiscal year, which runs July 1 through June 30.
“Aligning the service of the chief justice to the state’s July 1 to June 30 fiscal year calendar will help us better plan and work with leaders in the executive and legislative branches to secure the Court’s budget and ensure efficient access to justice for all citizens,” Bunn said.
Bunn will serve an initial 18-month term while the transition takes effect. Beginning in 2027, a new chief justice will take over each July 1.
Justice Charles S. Trump IV has been designated to serve as acting chief justice any time Bunn is unavailable during her tenure.
“I’m extremely humbled and grateful for this opportunity and look forward to working with Chief Justice Bunn over the coming year and a half to serve the people of West Virginia on our Court,” Trump said.
